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No. 3 seed UC Santa Barbara outlasted fifth-seeded Cal State Bakersfield, 8-7, in a penalty kick shootout to claim the 2024 Big West Women's Soccer Championship title on Sunday at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

UCSB (8-5-9) wins their third Big West Championship title, with all three coming in a penalty kick shootout. The last Championship trophy came in 2009 after consecutive Gauchos' titles. With the win, the Gauchos will advance to the program's 10th NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship bracket. UCSB's postseason opponent and location will be announced tomorrow, Nov. 11, at 1 p.m. on NCAA.com.

The first half between the Gauchos and the Roadrunners ended with a 1-1 score. CSUB took an early lead with a goal by Cynthia Ramirez, assisted by Solei Moton in the 4th minute. UCSB responded with a goal by Big West Championship co-MVP Devin Greer, assisted by O'Callaghan Liu, in the 36th minute, equalizing the match late in the period. Both teams had multiple offensive opportunities, with CSUB's Kamy Anaya saving a key shot from Isabella Ong in the 14th minute, while the Gauchos' Maddie Buckley made a crucial save against Natalie O'Sullivan's shot in the 22nd minute.

The second half began with UCSB extending their lead to 2-1 when Greer, The Big West Freshman of the Year, scored a second goal of the match in the 51st minute, assisted by Zoe Franks and Olivia Howard. The Roadrunners responded in the 65th minute, as Isis Salazar-Ortega scored with an assist from Paige Rodriguez, leveling the score at 2-2. The Gauchos' Maddie Buckley made several crucial saves, notably stopping shots from Cynthia Ramirez and Iliana Murguia.

The half concluded with both teams tied, as CSUB managed to apply pressure with multiple corner kicks and shots in the closing minutes, but were unable to convert further opportunities in regulation.

The first golden-goal overtime period of the match saw UCSB's Greer took a shot in the 96th minute, which was saved by CSUB's Anaya, followed by another shot from Liu in the 99th minute, also saved by Anaya. Despite several attempts by the Gauchos, the period ended without any goals being scored, leaving the score tied at 0-0.

The second overtime period began with both teams immediately taking offensive action. CSUB's Anela Nigito attempted a shot in the 101st minute, followed by another attempt from the foot of Greer in the 102nd minute. The Gauchos maintained pressure with a series of corner kicks midway through the second overtime, but could not find the net, forcing a penalty kick shootout.

In the shootout between UCSB and CSUB, both teams demonstrated strong performances. Each team successfully converted their first two attempts, with the Roadrunners' Nigito and Mya Fortun scoring, matched by the Gauchos' Greer and Emily Caughey. The shootout continued with CSUB maintaining a slight edge as Sara Ybarra and Cynthia Ramirez scored, while the Gauchos' Emma Corcoran missed an attempt high.

However, UCSB rallied with successful shots from Championship co-MVP Sofie Rodriguez and a miss by CSUB's Marguia knotted the shootout score. Gauchos Liu, Caitlyn Simons, Olivia Howard and Ong were matched kick-for-kick by the Roadrunners to bring the shootout score to 7-7 as Hollee Hercik came up as CSUB's ninth shot taker. After the attempt went wide left off the post, UCSB's Haley Phillips came up clutch to power the Gauchos to victory with an 8-7 final count in penalty kicks.  

Cal State Bakersfield closes their historic runner-up season with an overall record of 8-10-5 and their first-ever Big West Championship game appearance in their first time making the postseason field.